Credo ↔ Oratio

It all started on September 26, 2009. I opened up to page 74 of Debbie Stoller’s Son of a SnB and cast on 280 stitches to create the bottom of the Cable Guy Sweater. It’s been a long journey, including having to rip out a large section at one point and casting off the neck only to find out that I had to re-do it because my head didn’t fit through the original neck hole! (Oh, and NO I do not have a particularly big head!)

It’s done though, and I’m pretty happy with it:

Details:

If anyone is considering doing the pattern, I followed the medium pattern (the first numbers inside the parenthesis) but lengthened the body and the arms to the row counts of the XXL. The arms are a bit too long (which is better than too short) but the body length is about perfect. Also, I think the pattern moves the start of the row for final decreases on the neck shaping – it isn’t a big deal; simply follow the routine you’ve been doing for the rest of the decreases.

Also, I think there’s an error in the neck shaping Rnd 1. It reads “*K2, k2tog, work in patt as est to 5 sts…” I think it should be: *K2, k2tog, work in patt as est to 4 sts… (Rather than 5)

Finally, the pattern calls to decrease the neck down to 98 stitches. Even after redoing the cast-off and using a slightly-stretchy one, my head barely fits through it. If I’d do it again, I’d probably shape the front neck (to remove what looks remarkably similar to a double chin…) and decrease less (for a slightly larger neck-hole).

In any case… Have a great day!

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I honestly don’t recall the last time I used a can or bottle cozy, but on a whim I signed up to do a “cozy exchange” with a handful of other male knitters.  Fun, huh?!  The only problem is that I didn’t really like the patterns I was able to find online… So, why not make my own.  After all, a cozy’s really nothing more than a tube, right?

I think they turned out pretty well….

You can have the pattern here if you want it.

Grace and Peace,

`tim

She doesn’t spend much time on the ‘net, so I’m pretty sure she won’t see this before Christmas.  Just to be fair, however, don’t tell her…

For the rest of you, I thought I’d share:

Technical Details:

• Thread: HHLizbeth from Hobby Lobby
• Size 20
• Color 670
• Pattern: Original
• Finished Size: 8″ across

Grace and Peace,

`tim

A few weeks ago I promised something tatted for a friend of mine (aka JB); unfortunately, the bookmark I was working on was so ugly that I decided to dump it and work up something new with the same thread. This one is similar pattern, but more generous turns on the extremities (the 5-picot chains balance out the ends better than what I was previously doing.) This kind of thing, unfortunately, is a common problem since I seldom use patterns for bookmarks like this and like trying new things (which sometimes bomb.) (I tend to develop tatting patterns by trial-and-error rather than a plan-it-all-out-in-advance as I do with knitting patterns.)

It’s made out of JJLizbeth thread, size 20. I’m new to this particular thread (available from Hobby Lobby) but absolutely love it. It’s wonderful to work up and produces and defined and solid knot but it isn’t at all clunky.

For those interested, the rings are all 5-5-5-5 and the chains are all 3-3-3-3 (with the exception of the ends of each extremity, which are 3-3-3-3-3-3). It’s approximately 3 1/2 inches wide and 4 3/4 inches long. If you’d like more specific details, drop me an email or a comment and I’ll gladly write it up more carefully.

JB – if you’re reading this, I’ll bring it to the meeting we have next week.

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival today! Yay! If you’re at all interested in animals and fiber work, it’s worth a trip to one, some day. The Michigan one is the only fiber festival I’ve ever gone to, but it’s a good time and the price is right – only $5 to get in ($8 for the whole weekend) – and parking is free!

Last year I went home with very little (two lucets – one for myself and one for a friend). This year I had loftier goals; I wanted fiber.

As you may know, my dear wife got me a spinning wheel and, although I have some fiber, I’ve been waiting for the festival to pick up something a bit new and different. I did!

Upper Left: “Blue Heart” – 4.5 oz Corriedale from Barbara Lambrecht in Wayland, MI. (no website… yet.)

Upper Right: (Black) – 1/2 pound Columbia/Romney Roving from Centennial Farm Wools in Charlotte, MI.

Lower Left: (Dark Grey) – 1/2 pound Jacob Sheep Roving from Sweet Grass Farm in St. Johns, MI.

The most exciting purchase of the day, though, is that lower right-hand corner: 2 oz. of Buffalo! It isn’t Quivet, but it’s beautiful. Mixed with just a hint of wool. It’s soft, unbelievably warm, and Bonnie (from Catalynje Fuffalo Fiber Co. in White Pigeon, MI) is a hoot. I stopped at their booth last year and fell in love with the stuff but really didn’t have anything to do with it; this year, though, I have a wheel — I’m going to make it into a 2-ply with some Corriedale (that I already have)… eventually, anyhow!

On top of that, I had the chance to meet (in person… not just online) with a bunch of Ravelry-ers:

And from the podcast The High Fiber Diet:

(that’s Bethanyg, CoggieT, and yes, me)

I also finally got to put a face to CJ Kopec, who lives just down the road, but I’ve never actually met in person:

(dontcha just love those “hold up the camera yourself” shots?

Of course, alongside all of the people, the barns were full of alpacas, sheep, goats, and bunnies – I was a good boy, though, and didn’t whip out the Discover card and bring one home! (I’d rather stay married!)

All in all, a good day; next year maybe you can came to! It’s great to be around an entire group of people who are pleasant and friendly – that seems so rare.

Grace and peace,
`tim

I don’t actually do a lot of tatting these days; I’m currently “in” to hobbies that I can pretend are somehow practical and tatting really doesn’t fit that bill (albeit I’ll admit that I interpret “practical” VERY liberally!)

Sometimes impractical fits the bill though, and Sunday I have the privilege of baptizing two little girls in our congregation – sisters. Baptismal celebrations aren’t about being practical… they’re about extravagance and celebration – that God is gracious to us long before we have any clue who God is. So, I pulled out one of my shuttles, picked up a ball of Cebelia, and got knotting (technically tatting is knotting, not lace – although I usually refer to it as a type of lace). I usually don’t give tatting as gifts or sell it at shows/auctions since no one seems to quite understand how much work goes into it – even the small pieces. I figure that, between these two little bookmarks, it works out to about 3,500 two-part knots. It’s amazing how quickly they add up!

Details:

Have a great weekend; I plan on it!

Grace and Peace,
`tim

“Inconsistent” is the best word to describe my spinning at this stage of the game, but just to prove I could use it, I took my second bobbin, set it, and put it to some needles. The hat turned out a bit big and I haven’t blocked it yet but all-in-all I’m happy with it!

Yeah!

For those who care about such things:

Needles: Bamboo DPNs (US8)
Fiber: Corriedale
(from www.coppermoose.com)
Pattern: Top Down Hat
(from the Knitting (Man)ual by Kirstin Spurlkand)

Grace and Peace,
`tim

Some of you may have heard that my lovely wife (JJ) promised me a spinning wheel for Christmas & my Birthday. That present, however, wasn’t allowed to materialize until after I finished my D.Min. thesis. (For the record, that was my rule, not hers – I knew that a toy like that would be FAR to distracting!) Well, the thesis is complete, and the wheel arrived – unfortunately it arrived the day before Synod started so I didn’t have a chance to play with it. Fortunately, I’ve had a bit of time to try it out since Synod was finished.

I can’t honestly call myself a spinner yet (obviously!), but I think I’m improving. Here’s a picture of my first bobbin:

It’s ugly, I know, but here’s a pic of the second:

I think the second bobbin might actually be knitable!

All I can say is: fun!

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I think it’s possible that we may have enough knitters, crocheters, etc. at General Synod this year for a meetup! Fun, huh?!

Anyhow, I’ve talked with my favorite local yarn shop (Lizzie Ann’s Wool Company in Holland, MI) and the owner has offered to open her shop up specially for us! The other great thing is that it’s only a couple of blocks away from Hope college so anyone who wants to go can walk – no carpooling necessary.

Tentatively it’s being planned for Sunday from 12 (noon) until 2:00 – which is currently planned as a break in the schedule.

Nothing fancy, just a time to get together, chat and stitch a bit.

If you’re interested, you can see the draft handout here (.pdf).

Drop me an e-mail (teejtc [at] gmail [dot] com) or leave a comment if you’d like me to contact you when details get solidified.

Grace and Peace,
`tim

Several years ago Rowan put out a baby & kids knitting book called Pipsqueaks. It’s a great collection and, although I have only made one pattern out of it (“Lucky”), I’ve made that pattern several times. Unfortunately, my recent obsession with Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) made me forget about it.

Two of my friends from college, however, recently had their second baby (a gorgeous little girl) and I wanted to send them something. The BSJ I was working on was far too “boy-ish” so I needed something else and “Lucky” seemed like a good choice.

There are a few biffs, but all-in-all I’m pretty happy with it:

Hopefully it’ll fit lil’ Penelope Grace well and keep her warm on a few of the cold spring evenings still ahead of her.

I doubt Jen & Kev bother reading my blog, but if you do, I blocked it tonight and it’ll spend the night drying. It should be in the mail by the end of the week!

Details for the Knitters out there:

Pattern: Rowan’s “Lucky” found on page 73 of the Pipsqueaks book.
Size: 0-6 months
Yarn: Nashua Handknits “Creative Focus Superwash;” 250(ish) yards (a bit over a skein)
Color: 16 (Dye Lot: 1586)
Needles: size 6 and 8 (straights, bamboo)

Grace and Peace,
`tim